Autoseum shifts into high gear

The non-profit Autoseum Automotive Teaching Museum in Long Island, N.Y., opened last year and already is making waves. The car-centric museum and school is in an area that has a huge and active car scene and its events have brought out some great rides and some fun celebrities in the short time of beginning open.

The car-centric Autoseum Automotive Teaching Museum in Long Island, N.Y., is in an area that has a huge and active car scene and its events have brought out some great rides, and some fun celebrities in its short time of beginning open. (Autoseum Automotive Teaching Museum)

The brainchild of Mike Manning and Andy Perillo, the East Coast reps for the King of Kustoms, George Barris, the museum has closely worked with Barris from the initial opening and regularly features his famous and wild vehicle creations on display. With a goal toward giving the public a place to learn about and view some of the most famous vehicles in the world, particularly well-known movie cars, the aim is to train enthusiasts with skills to customize and build cars from the ground up. Working with all types of vehicles, from Model Ts to modern cars, the students get their hands dirty on a wide variety of projects.

While they focus on working with and teaching the youth of Long Island, the school and the museum is open to adults from all walks of life, and they have special grants and programs in place to assist lower income participants. Teaching restoration, repair and customization, all aspects of working on cars are visited and explored at the Autoseum.

The museum was lucky enough to play host to Barris’ original Drag-U-La, famous as Grandpa Munster’s kooky coffin hot rod from the iconic television series, The Munsters. The team won the coveted Commander’s Award when they displayed it at the 2013 Malba Car Show, run by Bill Giaccio.

Several years ago, prior to the Autoseum’s opening, Barris had asked Perillo to fix it up so actor and original Grandpa, Al Lewis, would be able to take a ride in it one last time. Sadly, Lewis fell ill and passed away before getting to cruise it once more, but Barris made sure the Drag-U-La made it to Lewis’ funeral, rolling down the procession and giving a posthumous final ride to the beloved star.

Recently, the students acquired a 1977 Dodge Monaco, which they stripped down, prepped, primed, painted and restored to be a tribute to the Sheriff’s car from another classic television show, The Dukes of Hazzard.

Stunt driver and lead mechanic for the show, Tom Sarmento supervised the work the students did, guiding them in giving the finishing touches to it at the fourth annual Nassau County Cruise to the Show. They had Sonny Schroyer, who played Enos in the series, in attendance to dedicate and sign the finished tribute car, which, of course, was followed by Schroyer driving it and giving chase to Sarmento in a General Lee replica.

A 1977 Dodge Monaco was refurbished as the Sheriff’s car from the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. (Autoseum Automotive Teaching Museum)

Sonny Shroyer, who played Enos on The Dukes of Hazzard, signs the Sheriff’s car. (Autoseum Automotive Teaching Museum)

The non-profit Autoseum recently launched a funding campaign on Indie Go Go to raise funds. For more information about the school, the museum and their fundraiser, visit them at www.autoseum.org or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Autoseum.